Activism = Doing Nothing

October 10, 2007 2:19 AM

The Global Anti-War movement marched against the US invasion of Iraq in unprecedented numbers. Yet it accomplished nothing. Since so many people worked so hard to accomplish nothing - perhaps it is time for more people to do nothing to accomplish more.

The most powerful anti-war and anti-estabilishment activity today is coordinated, targeted inactivity.

posted by rougy (58 comments total)

you probably should have took your own advice...
posted by afu at 2:23 AM on October 10, 2007

We will.
posted by rougy at 2:25 AM on October 10, 2007 [1 favorite]

Let me know what I don't have to do to help.
(I think that's right.)
posted by From Bklyn at 2:28 AM on October 10, 2007

This is a single link FPP to wikipedia and should thus be deleted.
posted by adamvasco at 2:30 AM on October 10, 2007 [1 favorite]

无为而无不为.
posted by Abiezer at 2:30 AM on October 10, 2007 [2 favorites]

Adamvasco - pansy can't take it.

Bigger picture - stopping a war.

Not marching in the street.

Staying home with your baby, like Uncle John and Aunt Yoko.
posted by rougy at 2:31 AM on October 10, 2007

"This is a single link FPP to wikipedia and should thus be deleted."

Who made up that little pissy-pants rule?

Stop a war - stay home.
posted by rougy at 2:32 AM on October 10, 2007 [1 favorite]

So there I was, all set to do nothing about anything, and suddenly I felt compelled to flag some post for being nothing more than a ^.
posted by hypersloth at 2:36 AM on October 10, 2007

Well, you could always ignore it and focus on something more important than resisting a war - let's see - what's on the hot plate tonight?

A murder/sex story?

Wow - aren't you sophisticated.
posted by rougy at 2:38 AM on October 10, 2007

Oh dear rougy.
I am sympathetic to exploring new ideas for anti-war activity and often engage in debate on the subject. I was actually involved in organising demonstrations against the war here in Beijing - this was pretty much historically unprecedented and got us some attention from the secret police.
None of this changes the fact that adamvasco is entirely correct. MetaFilter is not a forum for activist posts, and one that involves merely a link to Wikipedia isn't going to fly come what may.
I'd like to add that you don't get very far in movement building by calling allies names. Are you serious? If so, act like a serious person.
posted by Abiezer at 2:41 AM on October 10, 2007 [1 favorite]

I'm not sure the Tao De Ching really speaks about a modern anti-war movement, but ok, if you say so...
posted by chlorus at 2:42 AM on October 10, 2007

Oh! Wait! You know what's really important?

Learning how to make Mountain Dew glow in the dark.

That's very inspiring stuff.

Truly FPP material.
posted by rougy at 2:44 AM on October 10, 2007

So...is this a joke, or are you trying to be serious? If you're trying to be serious you could have constructed a much better post; like the general strike one a few weeks back that I'm too lazy to link. Either way, this post fucking sucks and you're about as witty with your insults as Mayor Curly.
posted by Roman Graves at 2:44 AM on October 10, 2007

I am serious.

The link is meaningless.

The tactic is what I want to explore.

Get it?
posted by rougy at 2:45 AM on October 10, 2007

Then ignore the post.

Or address it.
posted by rougy at 2:46 AM on October 10, 2007

Hey - boys - you could always amuse yourself with LunchBall!

Which I'm sure is right up your alley.
posted by rougy at 2:47 AM on October 10, 2007

It's pretty high-concept, but I think so, yeah.

But...you had to know the thread would turn out like this, because you know how posts here work. If you had taken some time to throw together supporting links, we might actually be exploring said tactic right now.
posted by Roman Graves at 2:48 AM on October 10, 2007

Hey, uh, rougy... you're starting to look foolish. Actually, you're starting to come off as a real prick. You should probably stop commenting now.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 2:49 AM on October 10, 2007 [2 favorites]

I know how posts here work.

Address the concept, Roman.

We don't have to link to something to address the point.

You are actually saying that if I had made a webpage or found a webpage that supported my thesis, then it would be okay?

Grow up!
posted by rougy at 2:50 AM on October 10, 2007

This will etc...
posted by flapjax at midnite at 2:51 AM on October 10, 2007

Flap - then tell me - good idea or not?

You guys are the pricks for ignoring the substance of the post and snarking over the protocol.
posted by rougy at 2:51 AM on October 10, 2007

Flap - tell me - address the post.

Or chicken out.
posted by rougy at 2:52 AM on October 10, 2007

Actually, we are ignoring some substance here.

LunchBall is fucking sweet.
posted by Roman Graves at 2:53 AM on October 10, 2007 [2 favorites]

Ok, I'll address it.
You are ignoring the norms of this forum by inviting a debate rather than linking to the best of the Web, which is what is done here.
You are coming over here like someone who assumes you are the only one on MetaFilter who cares about the state of the world, whereas the rest of us are footling about in the bliss of wilful ignorance. This is probably less true of the readership here than a whole lot of other places, for one, and secondly, one of the long-standing banes of political activism have been self-righteous people who think that if you're not all revolution 24/7 then you don't care. This does more to turn people off than it does to build a sensible level of engagement that can be sustained over the long-term.
The combination of these two factors means that the sum effect of this post will be detrimental to any advance of anti-war politics. So don't do it. There's you 无为.
posted by Abiezer at 2:53 AM on October 10, 2007 [10 favorites]

Hey rougy, you ever try NyQuil and RedBull?
posted by hypersloth at 2:54 AM on October 10, 2007 [1 favorite]

Chicken out? Who the fuck do you think you are? I'm not obligated to answer you! Christ, what a nerve! And your holier-than-thou, you're-all-a-bunch-of-knuckleheads comments are stupid and irritating. Don't get preachy with me, you silly twit.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 2:55 AM on October 10, 2007

methinks you have
posted by hypersloth at 2:55 AM on October 10, 2007

You are a fucking asshole coward piece of shit.

Actually, you fucking pissants have pulled this shit more than once.

I've seen a few good posts go down because jackoffs like you mew like kittens who want their milk.

And I've seen many posts, of lesser substance, let to ride just because a few buttholes think it's cool.

War - resistance - that's the post.

You fuckers want the war, don't you?

Good money, huh?
posted by rougy at 2:56 AM on October 10, 2007 [2 favorites]

I've been using this tactic every single day at work.

(Good way to get a content-free FPP up as long as possible; post it at 3 in the morning)
posted by Bletch at 2:56 AM on October 10, 2007

The best of the web...okay...

Man I was fooled.

I haven't seen the best of the web on this site for three years.

What I have seen are a handful of pernicious self-impressed diva's steering what can be talked about and what won't.

I've also noticed quite clearly what is not talked about.
posted by rougy at 2:58 AM on October 10, 2007

You guys are the pricks for ignoring the substance of the post and snarking over the protocol.

This post has no substance.
posted by chillmost at 2:59 AM on October 10, 2007

Fuck you guys.

I hope you're young enough to get drafted.

Kiss the sands of Iran.
posted by rougy at 2:59 AM on October 10, 2007 [1 favorite]

You fuckers want the war, don't you? Good money, huh?

Oh, yeah, I'm making a mint off the war. Wheeee! You should see my bank account! It's the anti-war songs that are really raking in the big bucks! In fact, ALL of us here at MeFi are nothing but WAR PROFITEERS! Didn't you know? NO?

OK, continue with your flameout, please.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 2:59 AM on October 10, 2007

Dude, there's no substance for us to ignore. You post a vague political idea as a statement and expect it to grab people? You're either fucking high, or some 16 year old kid wearing a Che shirt.

But on a side note, I love being a night owl mefite.
posted by Roman Graves at 2:59 AM on October 10, 2007

Flagged.

*burns flag*
posted by Poolio at 3:01 AM on October 10, 2007 [5 favorites]

Wow. What on earth is up with rougy's poetry on his/her profile page.
posted by liquorice at 3:01 AM on October 10, 2007

This is why political philosophy courses ought to be goddamn compulsory in school.
posted by generichuman at 3:02 AM on October 10, 2007

Well, I'm waiting for my bacteria to express. Molecular biology does bad things to your sleep cycle. What's your excuse?

rougy has the right idea, by the way; I'm drinking out of my favorite Iraqi skull coffee mug right now. Muahahahaha.

-Bletch, who's actually going to volunteer for the Sheehan campaign
posted by Bletch at 3:03 AM on October 10, 2007

Can somebody post a link to that popcorn thread? I'm guessing it will be a while before the mods get out of bed, so I wanna get comfortable for the show.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 3:03 AM on October 10, 2007

diva's

grocer's apostrophe! THWACK!
posted by By The Grace of God at 3:08 AM on October 10, 2007

My excuse? it's noon. And I have a procrastination problem.

so did rougy pass out?

('rougy' always makes me think of "orange roughy", which apparently live for eighty-odd years. This post is how old now?)
posted by From Bklyn at 3:09 AM on October 10, 2007

goodbye, rougy tuesday
posted by bunglin jones at 3:09 AM on October 10, 2007 [2 favorites]

or, you know, Wednesday.
posted by bunglin jones at 3:10 AM on October 10, 2007

Aside from your…intriguing poetry, I don't get what you’re trying to say. Doing nothing means your silently acquiescing to the will of the government, right? How will this end the war?

Also, you do more harm than good for the anti-war movement, or any movement you’re involved in, I’m sure. Your approach alienates the people you are trying to recruit, attempting superiority or smugness over those that are needed to help make a difference only serves in undermining your project and pushing people to the other side of the issue.

Maybe you’re really a pro-war fan trying to convince us to do nothing so you can win the internets or something of that sort?
posted by liquorice at 3:10 AM on October 10, 2007

It's at times like this that we need our inline images.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 3:11 AM on October 10, 2007

INVISIBLE PINK UNICORN (lol)
posted by Poolio at 3:11 AM on October 10, 2007

Metafilter: Kiss the sands of Iran.
posted by By The Grace of God at 3:12 AM on October 10, 2007

For Gods sake people it's Matt's birthday and look at the mess you've made in here. I mean really...
posted by oh pollo! at 3:12 AM on October 10, 2007

rougy has already dropped so many priceless pearls in this thread, I'm not sure where to start, but this one certainly deserves notice, so...

Metafilter: you fucking pissants have pulled this shit more than once.

Also, listen, rougy, if you think you're somehow the only person on MetaFilter against the war, or if you actually believe that most (or, hell, any) MeFiers want the war, then all I can say is you have been reading some alternate-universe bizarro-world version of MeTaFilter.

But really, I'm assuming that you're drunk or high or something. I'm hoping anyway, that you're drunk or high or something. But I've copied the lovely poetry on your profile page in case you really are flaming out and we never have the chance to read those golden words again.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 3:13 AM on October 10, 2007 [1 favorite]

MetaFilter: You could always amuse yourself with LunchBall!
posted by Poolio at 3:14 AM on October 10, 2007

Oh, shit! The poetry's GONE!!!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 3:14 AM on October 10, 2007

S'okay, I kept a backup copy in case this very thing happened.
posted by liquorice at 3:16 AM on October 10, 2007

Actually, that murder/sex story you so sneeringly dismiss might actually surprise you, rougy, as it doesn't have anything to do with either murder or sex.
actually, it didn't seem to have any point at all - as a story it DID NOTHING. Maybe it's your sort of thing
posted by bunglin jones at 3:17 AM on October 10, 2007

intriguing poetry

Rougy's poetry is like the Desapareciados of Argentina. The Secret Police came in the night and whisked it away.

I'm initiating some coordinated, targeted inactivity to protest the disappearance of Rougy's poetry.

First they came for the inline images -- but I was not a pissing elephant, so I did nothing.
Then they came for Rougy's poetry -- but I was not a poet, so I stood idly by.
Then they came for Rougy's post -- and I cheered along with all other supporters of the Iraq war.
Then they came for me.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 3:17 AM on October 10, 2007 [2 favorites]

consider this a declaration of anti-war.

risk.
posted by UbuRoivas at 3:17 AM on October 10, 2007

...and I can read this 'poetry' stuff where, exactly, please?
posted by From Bklyn at 3:17 AM on October 10, 2007

look at the mess you've made in here.

This thread is like two kinds of wet in the pants.
posted by three blind mice at 3:20 AM on October 10, 2007 [3 favorites]

...and I can read this 'poetry' stuff where, exactly, please?

Dagnabbit, I really did intend to zip right back over to rougy's page and copy it, but he was too fast for me. Anybody out there got it? Cause I know rougy would really, in his heart, want al us war-lovers to enjoy it.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 3:21 AM on October 10, 2007